The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-12-06


the end of the two hours found him
well up another gulch and away from
the dusty trail.
That night he slept on pine boughs,
warmed by roaring fire of more pine
boughs, and lulled into slumber by the
steady, mournful signing OF the night
wind through still other pine boughs
far above his head. The loss Of his
supper was not much felt; the failure
of breakfast to make its appearance
was more noticeable, but he rose early
and went on.
At three o'clock that afternoon-the
absence of dinner had been very
marked-he was surprised by coming
suddenly upon little rude. tumble
down log house, with an old horse
standing near. After some cautious
observations he walked up to the door
and entered.
An old man was lying on some
blankets In one corner. There were
frying-pan, one or two tin cans, an old
tarpaulin. a rusty gun, and few other
miscellaneous things, all of which Mr..
Bragg mentally ciassed under the COM
prehensive head of struck" scattered
about The old man was thin and gray
and appeared ill. Horseshoe rested
his hands OH his hips and looked down
at him moment Then he said:
swell. partner. are you sickP"
"Oh, no." replied the old man, in
feeble voice; I'm not sick. L don't
think; some tired though; I'm resting"
Horseshoe sat down on an empty up
turned blasting powder can.
Have you seen my boy in this coun-
tryP" suddenly asked the old man.
Cant say that have met him to-
day." replied Horseshoe.
'Then you know him, do your"
cried the old man. as he partly rose.
Cant says I'm so remark bly, init
mate with him; no. don't know your
boy. old man. There are several boys
in the Hills"
"Yes, that's So" said the old man.
as he sank back and covered his eyes
with his hands; that's what they all
say-sO many people.
whats your name?" continued the
old man, after pause.
''My name," returned Horseshoe, as
he met the old mans gaze with an
open, straightforward look, sis Jones. "
"You live at Deadwood. l s'pose?
yes"
whats your business thereP"
81 have" returned Mr.. Jones with
child-like righteousness, "a large sup
ply-store there"
care you prospecting nowP"
"Yes, sir, replied Jones, with an
open frankness that was pleasing to
see, 81 am looking around a little. |
have several valuable mines in the
Hills and am hunting for more. 1t
will be impossible" continued the can
did Jones. with beautiful desire not
to conceal any thing. ''for me to re-
main away from my extensive business
in Deadwood long enough to discover
more than three or four mines, but
think they can get along without me
till l find that many"
30. indeed" replied the old man,
would you mind handing me a drink
of water?"
The gentleman with the extensive
business relations at Deadwood com
piled, and then. at the old mans invi
tation, found himself something to eat
among the scanty stock of provision:
which the place afforded.
1t did not take Horseshoe long to SCI
: that the old man was very sick. HI
, fell into troubled sleep, from which
, he did not awake till evening. Horse
shoe had built a fire before the door
, which threw strangely-shaped shadows
, into the cabin. As he awoke he stared
wildly at Horseshoe and said:
"Have you seen any thing of JoeP
i "Who's Joe?"
"My boy-but you said you didn'
: know him, didn'tyou?"
al don't know" replied Horseshoe
/; feeling less facetious than in the after
. noon. 81 might He's out here, il
{ hep"
, "Yes, he came out after gold. He:
a good boy, Joe is; it will kill me if
| don't find him. There. that's all right
1 I'll find him. I've most found hin
l now" The old mans mind wa:
, neutrality-suspicious. by sickness Of
: perhaps old age. "I'll find Joe.
= call him my boy because 1 used to
5 But he is bigger than 1 am-he's ;
1 man now. He went away after gold
? and / have come after him. couldn'
5 live without him. He don't know
f am coming-It'll be a surprise to him
1 came up from Sioux City and across
e the reservation with big wagon-train
s but they said it was nearer across thi
4 way, so l left the trail early one morn
s ing with the colt and few things and